Posted by Orji Uzor Kalu, the Chief Whip of the Nigerian Senate, expressed displeasure on Wednesday with some candidates who engage in verbal attacks during campaigns rather than concentrating on what they will do for the people.
At a media event conducted in his Abuja office, Kalu made his observation in response to queries.
The former governor of Abia State called candidates' attention to the fact that they are well known to the public and should therefore not focus on the past performances of their political competitors instead of what they can offer the electorate.
He noted that some politicians running for office utilize verbal abuse as a tactic, saying that the development amounts to an abuse of democracy.
He cautioned presidential candidates' spokespeople from the major political parties against using inane details in their sophistries, emphasizing that their leaders shouldn't linger on trifling issues that always damage the democratic process.
“Everyone in Nigeria knows that there are four major contenders for the presidency in the year 2023, but their spokespeople are not providing Nigerians with the necessary information regarding the programs and agenda of their principals on the numerous difficulties facing the country,” he stated.
“What Nigerians want to hear from the four front-runner candidates of the four powerful political parties are their proposals on how to improve the country's economy and put an end to insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, and other types of crimes and criminalities plaguing it.
He stated, “Nigerians are tired of discourse on the personal lives of the presidential candidates as being spewed out by their spokespersons who should primarily be focusing on what their principles have in store for the people across the many sectors.”
In response to President Muhammadu Buhari's performance, the legislator stated that while there were some areas where he excelled and others where he fell short, government is a continuum that typically exists everywhere in the globe.
According to him, leadership is similar to the passing of the baton during a race, when each competitor is required to fulfill his or her specific job before moving on.
“President Buhari and his staff have given it their all over the past seven and a half years, but they will be leaving the stage in the coming six months to make room for a new group of leaders and, by extension, fresh concepts, ideas, and programs.
“Emergence of leaders is constantly helped by conditions and situations that are widespread, making leaders at different eras have different obstacles to tackle,” he stated.